What Is a Home Health Care Aide and How Can They Help You?

Home health care aides play a vital role in assisting seniors with nonmedical personal care services, allowing them to age in place comfortably. These aides are essential not only for the seniors they care for but also for providing support and respite to family caregivers.

What Care Does a Home Health Care Aide Provide?

Home health care aides offer a variety of services designed to help seniors live safely at home while maintaining their quality of life and emotional well-being. Their care can be categorized into three main types:

• Personal Care: Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as toileting, bathing, dressing, and feeding.

• Companion Care: Providing social interaction, engaging in conversations, and participating in activities like games or hobbies.

• Homemaker Services: Helping with household chores including meal planning and preparation, laundry, light housework, shopping, and errands.

The care provided by home health care aides is nonmedical, which distinguishes it from the medical care delivered by nurses or therapists. However, home health care aides can monitor a client’s physical and mental health and report any changes to family members or medical providers. In many states, home health care aides are required to complete at least 75 hours of training, which sets them apart from home care aides who may not have specific training.

What Are the Duties of a Home Health Care Aide?

Home health care aides perform many duties that family caregivers often handle. These responsibilities not only ensure that seniors receive the necessary hands-on support but also provide companionship and assistance with daily activities. The primary duties of a home health care aide include:

• Personal Hygiene: Helping with toileting, bathing, showering, and oral hygiene.

• Feeding and Nutrition: Assisting with feeding and meal preparation.

• Mobility and Transfer: Providing support with mobility, transferring from bed to chair, and other movement-related tasks.

• Companionship: Engaging in conversations and activities to keep the senior mentally stimulated.

• Household Chores: Managing tasks such as laundry, light cleaning, shopping, and running errands.

• Transportation: Assisting with transportation to appointments or social activities.

• Medication Reminders: Ensuring the senior takes their medications on schedule.

When Is It Time to Hire a Home Health Care Aide?

Determining when to hire a home health care aide can be challenging. As your loved one ages, you may notice changes in their mental and physical abilities that hinder their ability to live independently and safely. It’s important to have a conversation about getting support before an injury or accident occurs. Consider hiring a home health care aide if you observe these warning signs:

• Neglecting household responsibilities

• Persistent forgetfulness or poor judgment

• Increased difficulty with everyday tasks like cooking or laundry

• Challenges with mobility or transportation

• Changes in behavior or appearance

• New or worsening health issues

• Difficulty maintaining good hygiene

• Not eating regularly

• Frequent falls or accidents

• Signs of depression or anxiety

• Wandering away from home

Support for Family Caregivers

Primary caregivers may also find it hard to recognize when they need help. You might feel guilty about wanting time for yourself or acknowledging that your loved one’s needs have surpassed your ability to provide adequate care. Signs of caregiver burnout include:

• Lack of self-care

• Poor performance at work

• Difficulty maintaining relationships

• Decreased interest in hobbies

• Depression and anxiety

• Insomnia

Hiring a home health care aide can relieve some of these responsibilities, providing you with the opportunity for respite and allowing you to focus on other obligations such as work or family.

Cost of a Home Health Care Aide

According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the median hourly cost of hiring a home health care aide is $27. However, the actual cost can vary depending on where a senior lives and the level of care required. Most home care agencies have a minimum number of daily and weekly hours that must be met.

Hiring a Home Health Care Aide

Finding the right home health care aide involves understanding your loved one’s specific needs and ensuring the aide is trustworthy and capable. Key traits to look for in a home health care aide include:

• Compassion

• Patience

• Flexibility

• Respect and understanding of cultural sensitivities

• Good communication skills

• Honesty

• Attention to detail

• Physical stamina

By selecting an aide with these qualities, you can ensure that your loved one receives high-quality, compassionate care that supports their ability to live independently at home.

For information about how AmoryCare can help at home please contact us:

Phone: 908-854-3220

Fax: 908-854-3221

Email: info@amorycare.com 

Service Areas:

Union County, NJ: Berkeley Heights, Summit, Linden, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Murray Hill, Plainfield, Mountainside, Garwood, Clark, New Providence, Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Winfield, Kenilworth, Vauxhall, Cranford, Springfield, Union, Fanwood.

Morris County, NJ: Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Budd Lake, Butler, Califon, Cedar Knolls, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Far Hills, Flanders, Florham Park, Gillette, Greenvillage, Hibernia, Ironia, Kenvil, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Ledgewood, Lincoln Park, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Millington, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mt. Arlington, Mt. Freedom, Mt. Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, New Vernon, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Picatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Schooley’s Mountain, Stirling, Succasunna, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany.

Essex County, NJ: Livingston, Roseland, Essex Fells, West Orange, South Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, West Caldwell, Fairfield, Irvington, Newark, East Orange.

Bergen County, NJ: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack (county seat), Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Wyckoff.

Passaic County, NJ: Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park.